Help In Overcoming Sin
Categories: Sermon Outlines, Topical Sermon Outlines Tags: Sermons on SinINTRODUCTION:
A. It was a great day when Dr. Salk discovered his polio-preventing vaccine, resulting in the near complete annihilation of that dreaded disease.
B. But, what is even greater than this is to discover and apply the preventatives to sinning
C. This lesson presupposes:
1. The recognition that we are sinners (Rom. 3:23)
2. The intense desire to conquer sin in our personal lives.
a. All the helps in the world will be of no value to us if we do not have a strong desire to avoid sin.
b. We have to get our “want to” in gear
3. The realization that God expects us to overcome sin -Romans 6:1-2
D. Let us explore some helps in overcoming sin
DISCUSSION:
A. THE PROPER USE OF OUR BIBLES WILL HELP US TO OVERCOME SIN
1. Psalm 119:11
a. Why is it so important to place God’s word in our heart?
1) We act in accordance with the precepts of our heart
2) We will act no better than our heart
b. Proverbs 4:23; 23:7
2. Bible truth atones for sin
a. Proverbs 16:6 – truth purges sin
b. John 17:17
3. God’s law prevents backsliding
a. Psalm 37:31
b. Show me a backslider and I will show you a man who no longer loves, reads, studies, believes, obeys, memorizes, or teaches the Bible
4. John wrote his epistle to help prevent sinning
a. 1 John 2:1
b. Ezekiel 3:16-21
1) We must warn people with God’s word
2) It is a sin not to warn concerning sin
5. Jesus successfully met temptation with the Word of God (Mat. 4:1-11)
a. The same will work for us to day
b. If we are tempted to lie, remember Colossians 3:9
c. If we are tempted to forsake the assembly, remember Hebrews 10:25
d. If we are tempted to commit an act of immorality, remember 1 Corinthians 6:18
e. If we are tempted to speak evil … Ephesians 4:31
f. If we are tempted to steal, remember Ephesians 4:28
6. Therefore we need to resolve to:
a. Read our Bibles – 1 Timothy 4:13
b. Study our Bible – 2 Timothy 2:15
c. Meditate on the Bible – Psalm 119:97
d. Memorize Scripture
e. Attend every Bible Class available
f. Build a good home religious library
g. Subscribe to and read several Gospel Journals
B. PRAYER WILL HELP US TO OVERCOME SIN
1. “Prayer can stop sin, and nothing but sin can stop praying. Apostasy begins at the closet door. Keep your window toward Jerusalem open and you will not pitch your tent toward Sodom. Backsliding indeed starts in the knees. A dancing foot and a praying foot do not grow on the same leg. You will never stumble while on your knees. Yes, prayer is a potent preventative. As the prayer circle increases the circle of sin recedes. Thus, Satan trembles when he sees the weakest saint on his knees” (Wendell Winkler).
2. It is through prayer that we petition … “lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:13)
3. It is through prayer that we receive strength to stand
a. Luke 21:36
b. We are told to put on the whole armor of God in prayer (Eph. 6:13, 18)
4. Consider these series of questions:
a. Did you ever know of a man stealing and praying at the same time?
b. Did you ever know of a man drinking and praying at the same time?
c. Did you ever know of a man dancing and praying at the same time?
d. Did you ever know a man gossiping and praying at the same time?
5. It should be easy to see why we should heed the admonitions of the Bible to pray regularly.
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:17
b. “Continue instant in prayer” (Col. 4:2)
c. Jesus said we “ought always to pray” (Lk. 18:1)
C. SELF-EXAMINATION WILL HELP US OVERCOME SIN
1. We hear a lot about physical examinations, bank examinations, postal examinations; and these are important, but not near as important as self-examination
2. This is what Israel was told to do – Deuteronomy 11:16
3. David practiced self-examination – Psalm 39:1
4. Paul exhorted us twice to do this:
a. “Let a man prove himself” (1 Cor. 11:28)
b. 2 Corinthians 13:5
5. We need to realize that God’s word is the standard by which we are to examine ourselves – James 1:22-25
D. REVERENTIAL FEAR OF GOD WILL HELP US OVERCOME SIN
1. Exodus 20:20
2. Proverbs 3:7
3. Ecclesiastes 12:13
4. A contemplation of the goodness and severity of God will help us to have a reverential fear of God
a. Hebrews 10:31
b. 2 Corinthians 5:11
E. A REMEMBRANCE THAT GOD ALWAYS SEE US WILL HELP US OVERCOME SIN
1. We cannot escape the omnipresence, the all-seeing eye of God
a. Psalm 139:7-12
b. Proverbs 15:3
c. Jeremiah 23:23-24
2. Man sins when he looses sight of God’s presence
a. Psalm 94:5-11
b. Before stealing some chickens, a daddy looked before him, behind him and to each side. Whereupon his little boy said, “Daddy you forgot to look one direction – up!” The father had lose sense of the omnipresence of God.
F. A CLOSE WATCH OF THE COMPANY WE KEEP WILL HELP US OVERCOME SIN
1. Deuteronomy 20:16-18
2. Of Solomon it is said, “Even him did foreign women cause to sin” (Neh. 13:26)
3. If Peter had not been in the company of the Lord’s enemies he would not have denied the Lord
4. 1 Corinthians 15:33
G. A SINCERE CONVICTION THAT “THIS MAY BE THE DAY WHEN WE WILL MEET THE LORD, OR OTHERWISE HAVE OUR DESTINY SEALED” WILL HELP US OVERCOME SIN
1. Life is uncertain, death could come at most any time
2. Also, the Lord might return at most any time – as a thief
3. James 5:7-9 – Christians are to live every day like this were the day the Lord is coming
CONCLUSION:
A. Remember, these helps will assist us only if we really want to overcome sin
B. Overcoming sin takes effort on our part
C. Sin must be overcome if we are to be with our Lord in heaven